Law and Government Legislation regarding 'College costs' in Federal Government

Amends the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to allow public institutions of higher education to use the employment eligibility confirmation system to verify the immigration status of current or prospective students for the purpose of determining their eligibility for in-state tuition.

Focusing Investments and Resources for a Safe Transition Act, or FIRST Act - Amends the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make competitive grants to and enter into contracts with states (or state partners) to enable them to establish Individual Development Accounts for qualified foster youth to assist them in achieving self-support for housing, education, vocational training, and specified other purposes after leaving foster care.

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend through 2008 the tax deduction for qualified tuition and related expenses.

Middle Class Tax Relief Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make permanent the tax deductions for: (1) state and local general sales taxes; (2) mortgage insurance premiums; and (3) qualified tuition and related expenses. Makes permanent provisions of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 that increased dollar limitations on the tax credit for household and dependent care expenses.

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend through 2008 the tax deduction for qualified tuition and related expenses.

Military Child College Affordability Act - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to prohibit a state from charging members of the armed forces who are on active duty for more than 30 days and whose domicile or permanent duty station is in such state, and such members' dependents, more than the in-state tuition for attending a public institution of higher education (IHE) in that state.

Provides that, even if such members' permanent duty station is subsequently changed to a location outside the state, they or their dependents must continue to be charged no more than the in-state tuition if they remain continuously enrolled at such IHE in the state.

Enhancing Education through Tax Relief Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend through 2011: (1) the tax deduction for certain expenses of elementary and secondary school teachers; (2) the expanded tax deduction for charitable contributions of book inventories to public schools; (3) the expanded tax deduction for charitable contributions of computer technology or equipment to schools, charities, and public libraries; (4) the tax credit for holders of qualified zone academy bonds; and (5) the tax deduction for qualified tuition and related expenses.

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) increase the maximum dollar limitation on the Hope Scholarship tax credit from $1,000 to $2,000; (2) allow such credit for four years (currently, two years) of postsecondary education; and (3) allow such credit to include expenses for books, supplies, and equipment for courses and for reasonable room and board expenses.

Extends permanently the Secretary of Education's authority under the Higher Education Relief Opportunities for Students Act of 2003 to waive or modify the application of requirements and regulations pertaining to student financial assistance, under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, to certain individuals and entities affected by wars, other military operations, or national emergencies.

Universal College Credit Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit up to $4,000 annually for the qualified tuition and related expenses of an individual taxpayer, a taxpayer's spouse, and dependents. Allows such credit for four years of undergraduate education expenses and six years of graduate or professional education expenses. Excludes expenses for courses involving sports, games, or hobbies (unless part of a degree program) and expenses unrelated to an academic program (e.g., student activity fees, athletic fees, or insurance fees).

College Affordability Tax Relief Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) increase the tax deduction for tuition and related expenses; (2) allow an inflation adjustment after 2008 of taxpayer adjusted gross income levels used to determine eligibility for, and allowable amounts of, such deduction; and (3) make such deduction permanent.

Greater Access to Education Act of 2007 - Amends Internal Revenue Code provisions relating to the Hope Scholarship tax credit to: (1) include room, board, fees, books, supplies, and equipment as expenses eligible for such credit; (2) exclude Pell and Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants from types of scholarship assistance which reduce the allowable amount of such credit; and (3) exempt certain expenses eligible for such credit from tax information reporting requirements.

Makes the Hope Scholarship and Lifetime Learning tax credits refundable.

Lifelong Learning Accounts Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) establish tax-exempt lifelong learning accounts to pay for certain higher education expenses and allow a tax deduction for cash contributions to such accounts; and (2) allow employers, employees, and self-employed individuals tax credits for contributions to such accounts.

Requires the Comptroller General to study the effectiveness of such accounts and the tax credits provided by this Act.

America's Partnership for Nursing Education Act of 2007 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make grants to states that are experiencing explosive population growth and have a substantial projected shortage of nurses to increase the number of qualified nursing faculty in college and university nursing programs in the state.

Expresses the Senate's belief respecting specified immigration-related steps that the Administration should take to reduce illegal immigration and improve U.S. border security.

Expresses the House of Representatives' belief respecting specified immigration-related steps that the Administration should take that will reduce illegal immigration and improve U.S. border security.

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend the tax deduction for qualified tuition and related expenses through 2009.

Real Access to College Education Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow individual taxpayers (and their spouses if a joint return is filed) a tax deduction from gross income for post-secondary educational expenses, including tuition and related expenses and room and board. Limits the annual amount of such deduction to $13,150, subject to an adjustment based on the taxpayer's modified adjusted gross income.

Comprehensive Coverdell Modernization Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) increase from $2,000 to $4,000 the annual contribution limit to Coverdell education savings accounts; and (2) adjust such contribution limit for inflation after 2008.

Makes permanent provisions enacted by the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 relating to Coverdell education savings accounts and qualified tuition programs.